SHOEING. 563 
that the contraction would be entirely prevented. The plan was tried on 
the Royal Artillery horses, forty years ago, and was reported on favour- 
ably, but it was not long persevered in, and has never since, as far as I 
know, been reintroduced. It is excellent in principle, but the general 
opinion is that, when carried into practice, few of our horses would bear 
the battering of their heels which our hard roads would entail. It is 
worth a second trial, however, and I should much like to see one fairly 
carried out. 
7. Tue TIP is exactly similar in shape to the half-moon shoe, but is 
not so carefully seated on the foot, because it is merely wanted for horses 
intended to be turned out on soft ground. It is also generally made of 
equal thickness throughout, but it would be betterif the substance of iron 
were reduced at: the heels. 
8. THE PLATE OR RACING SHOE is merely a narrow rim of iron, flat on 
the side towards the foot, and grooved on the other. This groove gives a 
good foothold, and conceals the nail heads also, so that no fullering or 
countersinking is required. The breadth of the web is generally about 
half an inch. 
9. THE BAR SHOE is never used in this country for sound feet, but it 1s 
a great pity that some modification of it cannot be introduced so as to 
obviate all the objections which apply to the ordinary shoe. It consists of a 
complete ring of iron, similar in shape to the ordinary shoe, as far as the 
back of the quarters, but from that part bending inwards to meet the web 
Fic, 5.—Bar Sor ror Orr Fore Foor: Firrep, BuT NoT NAILED, ON. 
A. A. Bulbous heels of the foot. B. B. Fullering punched with seven holes, 
of the opposite side, with which it is welded. It is now used for two pur- 
poses, exactly the reverse of each other. In the one case the foot is so pre- 
pared that the frog shall touch the shoe, while the heels are quite free, and 
eo 2 
